Combined air inlet and exhaust valve.



11.20. THARP. l COMBINED AIR INLET AND EXHAUST VAiLVE.

REASON C. THABP, 0F OSCEOLA, MISSOBI. l

comnnmn am INLET Aim EXHAUST viiLvE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, REASON C. THARP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Osceola,'in the county of St.- Clair and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Combined Air-Inletsand xhaust-Valves, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing;

This invention relates to a combined air inlet and exhaust valve designed particularly for use in connection with gasolene and like fuel tanks for the supply of air to the tank to place the body Aof liquid fuel therein under a desired pressure, for feed t`o the motor,

j burner, or element to be supplied with fuel.

The primary object of they invention is to provide a combined air inlet and exhaust valve, through which air may be supplied to the tank through the medium of an ordinary air pump, and by means of which the air may be quickly exhausted from the tank when desired. I

A lfurther object ofthe invention is to provide a combination valve of the character described which is adjustable to be conveniently set for anl air feeding. or'ai-r exhausty action at will. j

A still further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the character described which is simpleof construction, reliable and eiiicient in action, inexpensive of production, and adapted to be applied for use either to the body of the tank or-to the usual cap or closure employed to seal the filling opening.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed7 reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a fuel tank and the improved valve device, said valve device being shown in connection with the closure cap for the filling opening. j

Fig; 2 is a view in elevation of the cap with the valve 'applied thereto.'

Fig. 3 is a top planview of the same. c Fig.v 4 is a side elevation of the rotary plig valve element. f

1g. 5 is a sectional view of the bushing. Referring to the drawing, 1 designates a' portion of a body of a gasolene or other,

liquid fuel tank, which is provided with a 'specification @fretten ramt. Patented Mar. 19, 1918.

Application led .Tune 21, 1917. Serial No. 176,202.

threaded filling opening, 2 for the reception of the usual lsealing cap or closure The' UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicfiiz.

valve is shown in the present instance as a plied to and forming a part of this cap, a

though it. is to be understood that it may be made independently of the cap and applied to any" suitable part of the body of l the tank.

The cap 3 comprises, in the present example, thevbody member ofy the valve device, and its cap is shown a's provided in its upper portion with a central recess 4, at diametrically opposite sides of which are arranged vlugs v5', which may be employed as finger pieces or for engagement with a spanner wrench or like tool to adapt the cap to be applied and removed with facility.

In its bottom the cap 3 is provided withr an opening 5 and fitted withinlthis opening is a bushing 6, which may be lthreaded or otherwise secured in position.` This bushing 6 is formedwith a tapered passage 7, extending vertically through the same and communicating at its upper end with the recess 4, said passage 7 forming a conical seat for a conical or tapered plug valve 8. a

The valve 8 extends through and above and below the passage 7, and is provided upon its lower projecting end with an opening 9 for the passage of a transverse pin or similar abutment 10 confining in position a washer or abutment 11 between which and the bottom of the bushing'is disposed a coiled spring 12, said spring serving by its expansive action to draw downward upon the plug air and liquid tight seal.

.valve 8 and to at all times hold `it properly f seated in the tapered passage 7, to effect an The valve 8 is provided with'an upwaiiilyV opening at its upper end through the nipple and at its lower end 'through a lateral uct 16 into the body of the tank, through the side of the valve, whereb air under pressure may be supplied throng said bore or passage to the tank by means of a pump applied to the nipple 13. lTherbore or passage 16 is controlled by means oa Shraeder or like type of spring controlled check valve, gen-j c;

erally designated by 17, having an upwardly ii f projecting plunger stem 18 Awhich is delpressed when the pump is applied to unseat pieces 21,

nication with one the valve for the iow of airto the tank, the valve at all other times automatically closing to hold and confine the air so introduced.

Formed in the. bushing 6 is an air vent groove or channel 19, which affords communication between the tank and passage 7, and formed in one side of the valve 8 1s a coacting air vent groove or channell 20, designed to afford communication between the groove 19 and the recess 4, and cOnsequentlywith the atmosphere, so that when said groovesareoin alinement and commuanother the air contained Within the tank may exhaust rapidly to the atmosphere. Projecting from the upwardly extendin portiony of the valve 8 are diametrically isposed operating arms or finger whereby said valve may be turned or rotated in its seat, in such a manner that the valve may be set for an air supplyin and charging action alone, or may be turne to bring the grooves 19 and 20 into register for an air exhaust action. The arms 21 are provided with beveled end portions 22 to\` engage the beveled ends, 23 of the lugs 5, whereby the arms and lugs are'adapted to form stops to limit the rotary vmovement of the valve to an extent not greater than 180 or a half revolution, and to prevent movement of the valve beyond predeter' mined positions.

Figs. 1 and 3 show in full lines the valve disposed in the exhaust position, in which position the beveled ends of the arms 21 engage the beveled ends of the lug's 5', thus serving as means for indicating thatthe grooves 19 and 2O are in register, whereby the exhaust of air from the tank to the at mosphere will be permitted. The valve may be reversed, however, yor turned in lone `d1- rection only to a position in which the ends of the arms 21 abut against the reverse sides ofthe lugs 5, as Shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, whereby the valve is disposed in such a position that the grooves 19 and 20 are out of register, so that 4the passage 7 will be sealed against the exhaust of air, while permitting air to be introduced through the bore or passage 15. When disposed in either operative position it will be evident that the force of the spring 12, while serving to hold the valve seated, will also tend to hold it` fromv rotary movement, whereby ythe valve will be held positively against displacement when adjusted to either working position.

It will thus be understood that the invention provides a valve device which may be conveniently applied to the closure cap of the filling opening of the tank, but may also be applied'toany other suitable portionof the tank, and that when. the valvel is arranged in position for use, it'may be set either for an air introducing or an air exhause action.' Hence theftank maybe supplied' with a charge of air under pressure acting upon the surface of the body of gasolene or other fuel for` a feeding action, or may be set to permit the air to be luickly exhausted to the atmosphere. When the tank 1s not charged with air the valve may be also disposed in an exhaust position to permit any fumes or vapor to escape -so that safety may be secured. It will be the construction of the device and adapting and a check valve controlling said airfeed I' passage.

2. A combined air charging and exhaust valve for the purpose described, comprising a valve body, a valve member movably mounted in the body about an axis extending longitudinally thereof for adjustment to open and close an exhaust port, said valve member being provided with an air charging passage, and a check valve controlling said charging passage.

3. A combined air charging and exhaust valve for the purpose described, comprising a body having a vent passage, a rotary valve member having a coperating vent passage, and also having an air feed passage separated from said coperating vent passage, and a check valve carried by said valve member and controlling said feed passage.

4. A combined air charging and exhaust valve for the purpose described, comprising a body having a vent passage, a rotary valve device having a coperating vent passage \extending longitudinally and upon thel exterior surface thereof, and provided with an air feed port, a check valve carried by said valve member and controlling said air feed port, and means for limiting the rotary movements of the valve memberto vent establishing and vent cut off positions.

5. A combinedair charging and exhaust valve including a bushing having a longitudinal bore provided with a vent passage, a rotary valve device mounted in said bush- .ing and operable about an axis extending 'longitudinally thereof, said valve device having spaced feed and exhaust ports, the.

latter being adapted Afor communication with said vent passage, and means in said feed port controlling the passage of air therethrough.

6. AA combined air charging and'exhaust valve including a body having a recess and an opening formed therein, stop lugs projecting-into said recess, a bushing in said gageable with said lugs to limit the rotary 10 Vopenin and havinga vent passage, a romovement of said valve device to exhaust tary` va ve device mounted in said bushing and feeding positions.

anda vent passage adapted for communica- In testimony whereo I hereunto aiix my tion with the first named vent passage, and signature in the resence 0f two witnesses. also having an air feed assage, a check EASON C. THARP. valve controlling'said air eed passage, and Witnesses:

yopposed .operating arms extending from T. B. WILSON,

said valve device into said recess and en- E. M. MAUPIN. 

